System and method for seasoning packets

ABSTRACT

It is provided a container having content for transferring through a wall, and it has a storing state and an open state. The container includes a wall having designated holes for transferring content from interior side of the wall to exterior side thereof, and an adhesive label which covers a wall portion including the designated holes and their margins. In storing state, the container content is substantially separated from sticking surface of the label. In open state occurring upon separating the adhesive label from at least part of the wall, apertures associated with the designated holes allow passage of the content through the wall. The designated hole may be filled by a surface element coupled to surrounding wall surface by a weakened border. Thus, separating the adhesive label from at least a part of the wall draws the surface element from the wall, leaving the designated hole open for transferring the content. Alternatively, the designated hole are empty, and the adhesive label has a non-sticking portions covering the designated holes. The adhesive coating of the adhesive label and surface of the wall mutually facilitate repeating adhesion of the adhesive label to the surface of the wall.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 61/259,181 entitled “Reusable Disposable Perforated Seasoning Packets” by the present inventor, filed. Nov. 8, 2009, and the benefit of provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 61/294,856 entitled “An adhesive label whose removal creates a perforated surface” by the present inventor, filed Jan. 14, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is in the field of packaging food and food additives, especially in the field of personal packets for spices and salt with reusable adhesive cover having dispensing holes.

2. Description of Related Art

Seasoning packets are widely used in restaurants, fast-food chains, airplanes, and pre-prepared food. Current seasoning packets lack perforations thereby requiring the user to tear open the packet at the corners and to shake out the seasoning directly onto the food or onto his hand and to then shake the seasoning from the hand onto the food in a controlled manner because the current packets do not provide a user with control when seasoning the food. This leads to inadvertent, excessive salting or seasoning that ruins the flavor or repeated seasonings until the desired flavor is achieved. Thus, it is desired to have more control on the seasoning or dispensing process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is provided according to some embodiments of the invention, a container having content for transferring through a wall of the container. The container has a storing state and an open state. The container includes a wall having designated holes for transferring content from interior side of the wall to exterior side thereof, and an adhesive label which covers a wall portion including the designated holes and their margins. In storing state, the container content is substantially separated from sticking surface of the label. In open state occurring upon separating the adhesive label from at least part of the wall, apertures associated with the designated holes allow passage of the content through the wall.

In some embodiments, designated holes are filled by a surface element coupled to surrounding wall surface by a weakened border. Thus, separating the adhesive label from at least a part of the wall draws the surface element from the wall, leaving the designated hole open for transferring the content.

In some embodiments the designated hole are empty, and the adhesive label has a non-sticking portions covering the designated holes.

Exemplary container content are food, food additives, medicine, cosmetic material, aesthetic material, spices, spice mixtures, grains, powders or crystals. Exemplary containers are packets, packages, bags, cardboard boxes, and seasoning dispensers. The label may contain a variety of materials, paper, cardboard, plastic and biodegradable material, for example.

In some embodiments, the adhesive coating of the adhesive label and surface of the wall mutually facilitate repeating adhesion of the adhesive label to the surface of the wall.

It is provided according to some embodiments of the invention a method for transferring content through a wall of a container having content. The method includes providing a wall of the container having designated holes for transferring content, affixing an adhesive label to a wall portion including the designated holes and their margins, and separating the adhesive label from the wall. The container content is substantially separated from a sticking surface of the label. Apertures associated with respective designated holes allow passage of the content through the wall.

In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of weakening borders between a surface element filling designated holes and the surrounding wall surface. Thus, separating the adhesive label from the covered wall portion draws the surface element from the wall portion, leaving the designated hole open for transferring the content. Alternatively, the method includes the step of preventing coating of certain portions of the adhesive label with adhesive material in accordance with location of empty holes on the wall.

It is provided according to some embodiments of the invention, a packet for storing dry material and for dispensing the dry material through dispensing holes. The packet includes a wall of the packet having designated dispensing holes for dispensing dry material from the packet, and an adhesive label covering a wall portion including the designated dispensing holes and their margins. Consequently, upon separating the adhesive label from the wall, a user dispenses dry material through apertures associated with the designated dispensing holes.

Exemplary dry materials are salt, pepper, pizza additive, garlic powder, cinnamon, ginger, spice mixtures, paprika, baharat, chimichurri, cumin, coriander, star anise, curry powder, and Za'atar. The packet material may include paper or polymeric material. The label may be made from paper, cardboard, plastic and biodegradable material.

It is provided according to some embodiments of the invention, a method for storing dry material in a packet and for dispensing the dry material through dispensing holes. The method includes providing a wall of the packet having designated dispensing holes for dispensing dry material from the packet, sticking an adhesive label on a wall portion including the one or more designated dispensing holes and their margins, and separating the adhesive label from the wall. Thus, a user dispenses dry material through apertures associated with the designated dispensing holes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to system organization and method of operation, together with features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings in which:

FIG. 1 a is a schematic drawing of a container having a wall and an adhesive label.

FIG. 1 b is a schematic drawing of a container having a wall and an adhesive label partially separated from the wall.

FIG. 2 a depicts a portion of a wall having two dispensing holes designated by a weakened border.

FIG. 2 b depicts a portion of a label having adhesive coating.

FIG. 2 c depicts the wall portion of FIG. 2 c without the eliminated holes.

FIG. 2 d depicts the label with the eliminated holes adhered to the surface of the label.

FIG. 3 a depicts a wall portion with empty holes.

FIG. 3 b depicts an adhesive label having non-sticking portions for covering the empty holes.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for transferring content through a wall.

FIG. 5 a illustrates a wall of a packet having an adhesive label covering dispensing holes.

FIG. 5 b illustrates a wall of a packet with exposed dispensing holes and with the adhesive label disposed on a part of the wall ready for resealing the dispensing holes.

FIG. 5 c is a side view of an exemplary packet.

FIG. 5 d is a triangular designated hole.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method for storing dry material in a packet and dispensing it through dispensing holes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in terms of specific example embodiments. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the example embodiments disclosed. It should also be understood that not every feature of the methods and systems handling the described device is necessary to implement the invention as claimed in any particular one of the appended claims. Various elements and features of devices are described to fully enable the invention. It should also be understood that throughout this disclosure, where a method is shown or described, the steps of the method may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that one step depends on another being performed first.

Before explaining several embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The systems, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs “comprise”, “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

The current invention refers to an adhesive label, the inner part of which is affixed to a semi perforated surface, in such a way that removal of the adhesive label creates holes and exposes a perforated surface, through which material may pass. The invention is not limited to a specific number or a specific size of holes, and neither is the size or shape of the adhesive label limited.

The adhesive label may be separated into two or more parts, each of which covers a different number and size of holes, in a way permitting different options of use. The adhesive label may be affixed to packages, containers, and bags made of any material. Its use permits preservation of the freshness of products before opening the package, and also permits use of the perforated surface, after removal of the adhesive label, for the purpose of spreading, sprinkling, and extraction of the materials from inside the container.

Removal of the adhesive label may be done completely, so that the adhesive label will be removed altogether and thrown away. The removal may be done partially for the purpose of re-adhesion and re-use of the adhesive label as a cover for the perforated surface.

The adhesive label may, but not only, be used as part of packages intended for spices, powders, grains, and crystals, for the purpose of domestic or commercial use, for eating houses, restaurants, public institutions, aircraft, etc. The adhesive label may be used both for packages intended for one-time use and for packages intended for repeated use.

The provided adhesive label permits efficient, convenient, and relatively cheap use, compared to the use currently made of packages intended for sprinkling materials. As of now, packages permitting use of a perforated surface are fitted with lids made of more expensive materials, such as plastic, metal, wood, etc.

Use of the adhesive label will permit the manufacturer to significantly reduce its production costs, without affecting the quality of the product.

In addition to the financial savings for the manufacturer, the invention contributes to the preservation of the environment, since the adhesive label, made of biodegradable materials, may replace lids made of non biodegradable materials, such as plastic. Thus, it may permit the manufacturer to produce containers made only of biodegradable materials. Attachment of the adhesive label can convert a cardboard box into an effective sprinkling container.

Furthermore, the adhesive label may be incorporated in paper packages that, until now, the consumer was required to cut open, and make use of their contents by cumbersome and inconvenient means, such as manual sprinkling or transfer of their contents to another container. By means of the adhesive label the consumer may make easy and convenient use of the contents of the bag, and may reclose the bag using the adhesive label.

In particular, the adhesive label may be used for seasoning dispensers, and in particular, relates to personal, small seasoning packets perforated on one side of a packet wall. The perforations are covered by a reusable sticker that sticks at least partially to the packet wall so as to prevent the contents from inadvertently leaking from the packets. In a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment the packets are 3 by 2 centimeters and have a very thin wall. The packets may be constructed from paper, or any light weight, durable polymeric material. Both a detachable cover and a non-detachable cover are included within the scope of the present invention.

The seasoning packets are intended to be used in restaurants, fast-food chains, airplanes, and pre-prepared food. The packet is used by uncovering the perforations and shaking the packet so that the contents pass through the perforations in a controlled manner without contacting the hands. Upon completion the user reseals the packet by covering the perforations with the cover thereby preserving the freshness of the contents. A diner is able to season his food by removing the reusable sticker, shaking the seasoning out the packet through the perforations disposed near the bottom of the packet wall and then resealing the packet by sticking the cover over the perforations.

The above mentioned functionality addresses shortcoming of seasoning packets in widespread use today. Current seasoning packets lack perforations thereby requiring the user to tear open the packet at the corners and to shake out the seasoning directly onto the food or onto his hand and to then shake the seasoning from the back of the hand onto the food in a controlled manner, because the current packets do not provide a user with any control when seasoning the food. This leads to inadvertent, excessive salting or seasoning that ruins the flavor or repeated seasonings until the desired flavor is achieved. The ability to be resealed makes the packet on one hand reusable while on the other hand, being disposable when the entirety of the contents has been removed from the packet. The reusable seasoning packet is extremely lightweight, compact, preserves the freshness of the contents, and easy to manufacture. It should be noted that a perforation cover that is held in place by way of a stick surface, interlocking groove and ridge mechanism, or hook-and-loop fasteners, or any other mechanism providing a reusable hermetic seal is also possible. Also, a packet may have a plurality of compartments whose outer wall has a separate perforation set and associated resalable cover.

As examples, two embodiments of the current invention are described below.

A Label Embodiment (FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, 2 a, 2 b,2 c,2 d,3 a, 3 b, 4)

Referring now to FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, it is provided a container 5 having content for transferring through a wall 10. Container 5 has a storing state and an open state, and it includes wall 10 having designated holes 15 for transferring content from interior side of container 5 to exterior side thereof, and an adhesive label 20 which covers a wall portion including designated holes 15 and their margins. In storing state, the container content is substantially separated from sticking surface of the label, as illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3. In open state occurring upon separating adhesive label 20 from part of wall 10, apertures associated with the designated holes allow passage of the content through the wall.

A tab 25 permits pulling adhesive label 20 in order to remove it. Alternatively, label 20 has no tab, but has a part in its edges that is not affixed to the surface, and may be pulled in order to remove adhesive label 20.

The separation of the container content from sticking to the surface of the label may be achieved by a variety of ways. In the example of FIG. 2 a, a wall portion 27 includes designated holes 30 a and 30 b, which are filled by respective surface elements 37 a and 37 b, which in turn are coupled to surrounding wall surface 27 by a weakened border designated by a dashed line representing either perforated line or a line weakened continuously along the dashed line. Such a weakened border may be achieved by a laser marking system of appropriate power working in either pulsed mode or in a continuous wave (CW) mode. A label portion 29 covers wall portion 27. By separating adhesive label 29 from wall portion 27, one pulls surface elements 37 a and 37 b out of the wall, leaving apertures 35 a and 35 b for transferring the content, while surface elements 37 a and 37 b remain adhered to label portion 29. After dispensing content from container 5, a user may reseal apertures 35 a and 35 b by putting back label portion 29 on wall portion 27, such that surface elements 37 a and 37 b cover respective apertures 35 a and 35 b. To this aim, sides 38W and 38L of respective wall portion 27 and label portion 29 should preferably remain connected to each other such that the covering elements 37 a and 37 b overlap the corresponding apertures 35 a and 35 b.

In the example of FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, designated holes 30 a and 35 b are actual holes 35 a and 35 b. A label portion 39 has uncoated elements 40 a and 40 b which are slightly larger than respective apertures 35 a and 35 b, and are located such that upon sticking label portion 39 to wall portion 27, keeping respective sides 38L and 38W in contact, the uncoated elements cover the apertures. Thus, the container content has no contact with the sticking portions of label 39.

For resealing, the adhesive coating of adhesive label 20 and surface of wall 10 are selected for mutual facilitation of repeating adhesion.

Exemplary container content are food, food additives, medicine, cosmetic material, aesthetic material, spices, spice mixtures, grains, powders, pet flea control powder, or crystals. Exemplary containers 5 are packets, packages, bags, cardboard boxes, and seasoning dispensers. Label 20 may contain a variety of materials, paper, cardboard, plastic and biodegradable material, for example.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it is provided a method 100 for transferring content through a wall 10 of a container 5 having content. Method 100 includes a step 110 of providing a wall 10 of the container 5 having designated holes 15 for transferring content, a step 140 of affixing an adhesive label 20 to a wall portion 27 including the designated holes 15 and their margins, and a step 150 of separating adhesive label 20 from wall 10. The container content is substantially separated from sticking surface of label 20. Apertures 35 a and 35 b associated with respective designated holes 30 a and 30 b allow passage of the content through wall 10.

In some embodiments, method 100 further includes the step 120 of weakening borders between surface elements 37 a and 37 b filling designated holes 30 a and 30 b and the surrounding wall surface 27. Thus, separating adhesive label portion 29 from covered wall portion 27 draws surface elements 37 a and 37 b from wall portion 27, leaving designated holes 30 a and 30 b open by apertures 35 a and 35 b for transferring the content. Alternatively, method 100 includes the step 130 of preventing coating of certain portions 37 a and 37 b of adhesive label portion 29 with adhesive material in accordance with location of empty holes 35 a and 35 b on wall portion 27.

Referring now to FIG. 5 c, a side view of an exemplary flat packet is presented. In such a flatly shaped packet, the dry material is dispensed by a sidewise motion rather than by an up-down motion.

In some embodiments, the designated holes are directionally shaped, like triangular hole 190 of FIG. 5 d. Consequently, the dry material is dispensed out of the packet into a preferred direction in accordance with a motion of the user and the triangular shape of hole 190.

A Packet Embodiment (FIGS. 5 a,5 b)

As shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, it is provided a packet 165 for storing dry material and for dispensing the dry material through dispensing holes 15. Packet 165 includes a wall 170 of the packet having designated dispensing holes 15 for dispensing dry material from packet 165, and an adhesive label 175 covering a wall portion including designated dispensing holes 15 and their margins. Consequently, upon separating adhesive label 175 from wall 170, a user dispenses dry material through apertures 180 associated with the designated dispensing holes 15.

A user may place label 175 on another portion of wall 170. After dispensing some spices or salt through the apertures 180, the user may stick label 175 back on the dispensing hole, thus keeping the packet for later use.

Preferably, there is no contact of the dry material with the sticking surface of the label as explained above in reference to FIGS. 2 a-d, and 3 a-b.

Exemplary dry materials are salt, pepper, pizza additive, garlic powder, cinnamon, ginger, spice mixtures, paprika, baharat, chimichurri, cumin, coriander, star anise, curry powder, and Za'atar. The packet material may include paper or polymeric material. Label 175 may be made from paper, cardboard, plastic and biodegradable material.

Referring now to FIG. 6, it is provided a method 200 for storing dry material in a packet 165 and for dispensing the dry material through dispensing holes 15. Method 200 includes a step 210 of providing a wall 170 of packet 165 having designated dispensing holes 15 for dispensing dry material from packet 165, a step 240 of sticking an adhesive label 175 on a wall portion including designated dispensing holes 15 and their margins, and a step 250 of separating the adhesive label from the wall. Thus, a user dispenses dry material through apertures 180 associated with the designated dispensing holes 15. Method 200 may also includes a step of re-sticking label 175 back to wall 170.

To prevent substantial contact of the dry material with the sticking surface of 175, method 200 may include a step of weakening borders between hole elements and the surrounding surface, such that label removal causes pulling of hole elements, leaving apertures 180 for dispensing the dry material. Alternatively, method 200 includes a step of preventing coating of label 175 on hole locations, as described in regard to FIGS. 3 a-b.

It should be noted that a perforation cover or label that is held in place by way of a stick surface, interlocking groove and ridge mechanism, or hook-and-loop fasteners, or any other mechanism providing a reusable hermetic seal is within the scope of the current invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that the current invention includes a packet having a plurality of compartments whose outer wall has a separate perforation set and associated resalable cover.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. In particular, the present invention is not limited in any way by the examples described. 

1. A container having content for transferring through a wall of the container, said container having a storing state and an open state, the container comprising: (a) a wall having one or more designated holes for transferring content from interior side of said wall to exterior side thereof; (b) an adhesive label covering a wall portion including said one or more designated holes and their margins; (c) in storing state, the container content being substantially separated from sticking surface of said label; and (d) in open state occurring upon separating said adhesive label from at least part of said wall, one or more apertures associated with said one or more designated holes allow passage of the content through said wall.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein at least one designated hole is filled by a surface element coupled to surrounding wall surface by a weakened border, such that separating said adhesive label from at least a part of said wall draws the surface element from said wall, leaving the designated hole open for transferring the content.
 3. The container of claim 1 wherein at least one designated hole is empty, and said adhesive label has a non-sticking portion covering said at least one designated hole.
 4. The container of claim 1 wherein the container content is selected from the group consisting of food, food additives, medicine, cosmetic material, aesthetic material, spices, spice mixtures, grains, powders and crystals.
 5. The container of claim 1 wherein the container is selected from the group of containers consisting packet, package, bag, cardboard box, and seasoning dispenser.
 6. The container of claim 1 wherein the label is made from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of paper, cardboard, plastic and biodegradable material.
 7. The container of claim 1 wherein adhesive coating of said adhesive label and surface of said wall mutually facilitate one or more repeating adhesion of said adhesive label to said surface of said wall.
 8. A method for transferring content through a wall of a container having content, the method comprising: (a) providing a wall of the container having one or more designated holes for transferring content from interior side of said wall to exterior side thereof; (b) affixing an adhesive label to a wall portion including said one or more designated holes and their margins, such that the container content being substantially separated from sticking surface of said label; and (c) separating said adhesive label from at least part of said wall, such that one or more apertures associated with respective designated holes allow passage of the content through said wall.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the method further includes the step of weakening at least one border between a surface element filling at least one designated hole and the surrounding wall surface, such that separating said adhesive label from the covered wall portion draws the surface element from said wall portion, leaving the designated hole open for transferring the content.
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein the method further includes the step of preventing coating of certain portions of said adhesive label with adhesive material in accordance with location of empty holes on said wall.
 11. The method of claim 8 wherein the method further includes the step of sticking said adhesive label to said wall after separating said adhesive label from at least a part of said wall.
 12. A packet for storing dry material and for dispensing the dry material through dispensing holes, the packet comprising: (a) a wall of the packet having one or more designated dispensing holes for dispensing dry material from the packet; and (b) an adhesive label covering a wall portion including said one or more designated dispensing holes and their margins; thereby upon separating said adhesive label from at least part of said wall, a user dispenses dry material through one or more apertures associated with said one or more designated dispensing holes.
 13. The packet of claim 12 wherein at least one designated dispensing hole is filled by a surface element coupled to surrounding wall by a weakened border, such that separating said adhesive label from said at least a part of said wall draws the surface element from said wall, leaving the designated dispensing hole open for dispensing the dry material.
 14. The packet of claim 12 wherein at least one designated dispensing hole is empty, and said adhesive label has a non-sticking portion covering said at least one designated dispensing hole.
 15. The packet of claim 12 wherein the dry material is selected from the group consisting of salt, pepper, pizza additive, garlic powder, cinnamon, ginger, spice mixtures, paprika, baharat, chimichurri, cumin, coriander, star anise, curry powder, and Za'atar.
 16. The packet of claim 12 wherein the packet material includes one of paper and polymeric material.
 17. The packet of claim 12 wherein the designated holes are directionally shaped, thereby the dry material is dispensed out of the packet into a preferred direction in accordance with a motion of the user and the directional shape.
 18. The packet of claim 12 wherein adhesive coating of said adhesive label and surface of said wall mutually facilitate one or more repeating sealing of said adhesive label to said surface of said wall.
 19. A method for storing dry material in a packet and for dispensing the dry material through dispensing holes, the method comprising: (a) providing a wall of the packet having one or more designated dispensing holes for dispensing dry material from the packet; and (b) sticking an adhesive label on a wall portion including said one or more designated dispensing holes and their margins; (c) separating at least part of said adhesive label from said wall, thereby a user dispenses dry material through one or more apertures associated with said one or more designated dispensing holes.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the method further includes the step of sticking said adhesive label to said wall after said separating at least part of said adhesive label from said wall. 